Dancers Not Soul-Winners by F. M. W.

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Feb 10, 1910

Dancers Not Soul-Winners

By F. M. W.

The following earnest words relative to the influence of dancing, by Fred D. Hale, a Baptist pastor of wide experience, as published in the Baptist Standard of January 27, only voice the sentiments and convictions of many earnest Christians, both pastors and laymen, who have had opportunity to witness the evil of this form of recreation:—

I have never known a dancer that was a soul-winner. I have asked of almost every congregation to which I have ever preached if there was any person present who knew of a dancing soul-winner, and have never yet found a person who was willing to testify, in public or in private, that he knew of a dancing soul-winner. There are “church workers” who dance; but when a church-member realizes the lost condition of those around him, sets out to lead sinners to Christ for salvation, feels his unfitness for this difficult work, and asks the Holy Spirit to prepare his heart and life for this service, somehow or other he feels that being known as a dancer will hinder him in this undertaking, and he voluntarily relinquishes the form of recreation in order that he may be successful in his God-given enterprise of soul-winning.

The main business of a church-member is soul-winning. One of the evils of dancing is seen in that it brings the undeveloped church-member under the influence of, and into intimate association with, worldly-minded non-Christians who care nothing for soul-winning. These worldly-minded non-Christian dancers influence the church-member away from the soul-winning life more than the dancing church-member influences them toward Christ as a Saviour.

Because of this well-established fact, the preachers and the churches should set themselves heroically against this form of recreation—this queen in the realm of worldly amusement. Their first duty to the “babes in Christ” who come into church fellowship is to develop them into soul-winners. If a church-member is decoyed by the devil, through non-Christian worldlings, into the ballroom, he at once becomes a subject of church discipline.

These are good words, and their truth will be recognized by every observing Christian. May they be heeded by those who need the admonition. F. M. W.